Virginia legal term
Sealing in Virginia Criminal Law
Current through 2026 Virginia legislative session
In Virginia criminal law, “Sealing” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the Virginia criminal code.
What does “Sealing” mean in Virginia criminal law?
"Sealing" means to prohibit public access to records relating to an arrest, charge, or conviction, including any ancillary matter ordered to be sealed, in the possession of (i) the Central Criminal Records Exchange; (ii) any court; (iii) any police department, sheriff's office, or campus police department; or (iv) the Department of Motor Vehicles unless dissemination is authorized for one or more of the purposes set forth in § 19.2-392.13 and pursuant to the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to § 9.1-128 and the procedures adopted pursuant to § 9.1-134 . (Va. Code Ann. § 19.2-392.5)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.